Timberwolves-Warriors Preview

Stephen Curry is hoping to see the Golden State Warriors be more consistent.

They’ve been as steady as could be against the Minnesota Timberwolves of late.

The Warriors could be without David Lee and Andrew Bogut as they go for an eighth consecutive win over the Timberwolves on Friday night.

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While Golden State (26-17) surrendered an average of 92.8 points during a 10-game winning streak Dec. 21-Jan. 7, it has since allowed 106.3 per contest during a 2-4 stretch. The Warriors are hoping to avoid a season-worst third consecutive home loss after falling 102-94 to Indiana on Monday.

Curry scored 24 points while Lee added 20 and 12 rebounds, but Golden State gave up a season high-tying 17 offensive rebounds.

"We’re right there as a team that has the potential to do some great things this year if we can figure that last, little bit of consistency out," Curry said. "We’ve shown in spots we have the talent to do it, we just have to find that last little piece of assertiveness against the best teams in the league."

His coach agrees.

"When we begin to take care of the little things it’s going to be scary at how good we can be," Mark Jackson said.

Golden State could have difficultly bouncing back without Lee (sprained shoulder) and Bogut (strained knee). Both players were limited in Thursday’s practice and could be held out of this game.

Fellow big man Jermaine O’Neal is nearing a return but remains sidelined with a wrist injury.

"We’ll figure it out," Jackson said. "If they can’t play, we’ll move forward and other guys will be ready. Hopefully, they’ll be fine."

The Warriors have won 13 of 15 against the Timberwolves, including seven straight while giving up 92.3 points per game. Golden State took this season’s first matchup 106-93 in Minnesota behind 30 points from Klay Thompson and a combined 42 from Andre Iguodala and Lee.

Thompson is averaging 23.5 points in the last four meetings.

The Timberwolves (20-21) are looking to win three straight for the first time since opening 3-0 after sweeping a home-and-home set against Utah. Minnesota won 98-72 on Saturday before opening a four-game trip with a 112-97 victory Tuesday.

The Timberwolves pounded the Jazz inside, recording 50 points in the paint in each contest with center Nikola Pekovic totaling 45 points and 23 rebounds.

"We knew we had the advantage against them inside. After last game, we wanted to keep doing that," coach Rick Adelman said. "We had a nice balance of looking at (Pekovic and Kevin Love), plus getting other open looks."

Love had eight assists Tuesday, tied for his second-highest total of the season. He is averaging 4.1, nearly double his career mark of 2.2.

"I’ve been passing the ball all season and guys were converting," Love said.

The Timberwolves will surely look to Love and Pekovic early and often again with Golden State’s frontcourt banged up. Love had 25 points, 16 boards and six assists in November’s meeting.

Love’s 14.7 rebounds per game against the Warriors are his most against any team.

Kevin Martin’s average of 21.4 points versus Golden State is his second-highest against any club. The veteran guard is uncertain to be available, though, after lacerating the pinkie on his shooting hand Tuesday.